Three Point Slide Connector System

ABSTRACT

A three point connector system that includes a male and female slide connectors that selectively engage when pressed together. Each slide connector includes a flat body with a hole or slot formed near its distal end in which a strap or cord may attach. The male slide connector includes at least two elastic arms that fit into an end opening formed on the proximal end of the female slide connector. Attached or formed on the top surfaces of the male and female slide connectors are two perpendicularly aligned arc members each with a center opening. The arc members are complimentary in shape and extend upward from the proximal end of the flat body. Each arc member includes an outer flat surface. When the male and female slide connectors are connected together, the two arc members are parallel and adjacent to form a fully assembled, enclosed D-ring. A suitable clip attached to a third strap member may attached around the enclosed eyelet that holds the two arc members together and prevents disconnection of the male and female slide connectors.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to connector systems that allow three straps tobe selectively connected together and where one strap prevents thedisconnection of the other two straps.

BACKGROUND ART

Many animals, such as horses and large dogs, have necks and otheranatomical structures that make it difficult to align and connect theopposite ends of a collar together around the animal's neck. Usually,the owner or master must hold the opposite ends of the collar and forcethem together with two hands.

Dog lovers and dogs enjoy walking with a leash that selectively attachesat one end to the dog's collar. The dog leash typically includes a clipthat attaches to a D-ring permanently mounted on the collar. Attached tothe ends of the collar are male and female end connectors that slidetogether to hold the collar in place around the dog's neck.

When restraining the dog, substantial force is exerted on the leachwhich is transferred to the D-ring and the male and female connectors.Because the D-ring is typically permanently attached to the collar, whenthe leash is disconnected from the D-ring, the D-ring is exposed andsusceptible to being snagged by other objects when the dog is playing orchase other animals.

What is needed is a connector that can be used two hold the ends of twostraps together and used with a third strap that prevents the two endsof the two straps from disconnecting.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A connector system that can be used to connect the ends of a singlestrap or two straps together and used with a third strap attached toanother object or used for a different purp0ose that prevents the twoends of the single or two straps from disconnecting.

In one embodiment presented, each connector includes a male and femaleslide connector configured to selectively engage when pressed together.Each slide connector includes a flat body with a hole formed near itsdistal end in which a strap or cord is inserted. The male slideconnector includes at least two elastic arms that fit into an endopening formed on the proximal end of the female slide connector. Formedon the opposite sides of the female slide connector are side openingsconfigured to receive the outward extending tab surfaces formed on theends of the arms on the male slide connector with inserted into thefemale slide connector.

Attached or formed on the top surface of the male and female slideconnector to two closed arc members each with a center opening. Each arcmember is mounted near the proximal end of the flat body and includes anouter flat surface. In the embodiment shown herein, the arc members areparallel and perpendicularly aligned to the top surface of the flatbodies. When the male and female slide connectors are connectedtogether, the outer flat surfaces of the two arc members are alignedparallel and pressed together to form a two part D-ring enclosed eyelet.A suitable single clip separately or a clip attached to a third strapmember may attached around the D-ring that holds the two arc memberstogether and prevents disconnection of the male and female slideconnectors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the three point connector systemshowing three straps attached thereto.

FIG. 2 is a top plan of the connector system shown in FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is an sectional end elevational view of the connector systemtaken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the connector system showing themale and to female slide connectors pulled apart.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the connectors shown in FIG. 4.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to the accompanying FIGS. 1-5, there is shown a three pointconnector system 10 that can be used to hold the ends of a first strap80 and second strap 85 together and used with a third strap 90 thatprevents the two ends of the first and second straps 80, 85 fromdisconnecting.

In one embodiment presented herein, the connector system 10 includes aquick release connectors that includes male slide connector 20 and afemale slide connector 40 configured to selectively engage when pressedtogether. As shown more clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5, each slide connector20, 40 includes a flat body 22, 42, respectively, with a hole or slot26, 46, respective formed near its distal end 24, 44 in which the firstand second straps 80, 85, respectively, are inserted or attached.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the male slide connector 20 includes at leasttwo elastic arms 28, 30 that fit into an end opening 48 formed on theproximal end 45 of the female slide connector 40. Formed on the oppositesides of the female slide connector 40 are arc side openings 50, 52configured to receive the outward extending tab surfaces 29, 31 formedon the ends of the arms 28, 30 when inserted into end opening 48 formedon the female slide connector 40.

Attached or formed on the top surfaces 21, 41 of the male and femaleslide connectors 20, 40, respectively, are two closed arc members 36, 56each with a center opening 37, 57, respectively. Each arc member 36, 56is mounted near the proximal end 35, 45 of the flat body 22, 42,respectively and includes an outer flat surface 38, 58, respectively. Inthe embodiment shown herein, the arc members 36, 56 are parallel andperpendicularly aligned to the top surfaces 21, 41 of the flat bodies22, 42, respectively. When the male and female slide connectors 20, 40are connected together, the outer flat surfaces 38, 58 are parallel andmay be pressed together to form an enclosed D-ring 60. A suitable clip92 attached to a third strap member 90 may attached around the D-ring 60that holds the two arc members 36, 56 together and thereby preventsdisconnection of the male and female slide connectors 20, 40 if the twoelastic arms 28, 30 are disconnected from the two side openings 50, 52.

The two elastic arms 28, 30 and the two side openings 50, 52 on the maleslide connector 20 and the female slide connector 40, respectively, actas quick release primary connecting components used to quickly andeasily connect the two ends of the strap 80, 85 together. When a clip 92is not attached to the D-ring 60, the two elastic arms 28, 30 and thetwo side openings 50, 52 are sufficient to hold the two connectors 20,40 together. When additional tension is applied to the two ends 80, 85,that may cause the two connectors 20, 40 to detach, then a clip 92 maybe attached to the D-clip 60 formed when two connectors 20, 40 areconnected. The clip 92 may be a separate structure designed solely tohold D-ring together or it may be attached to the end of a leach or cord90.

In compliance with the statute, the invention described has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features.It should be understood however, that the invention is not limited tothe specific features shown, since the means and construction shown,comprises the preferred embodiments for putting the invention intoeffect. The invention is therefore claimed in its forms or modificationswithin the legitimate and valid scope of the amended claims,appropriately interpreted under the doctrine of equivalents.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

This invention has application in the hardware connectors industry. Morespecifically, to such industries that use or require surfaces or strapsto be temporarily connected together.

I claim:
 1. A three point connector system, comprising, a. a male slideconnector with a flat body with distal end and a proximal end, said maleslide connector includes a hole formed near the distal end in which astrap or cord is inserted and at least two elastic arms extendinglongitudinally from said flat body, said flat body also includes aperpendicular arc member with a center hole formed near said proximalend; b. a female slide connector includes a flat body with an endopening and a hole formed near its distal end that receives a strap orcord, said flat body also includes an end opening configured to receiveand selectively hold said elastic arms on said male slide connector,said female slide connector also includes a perpendicular arc memberwith a center hole and aligned perpendicular on said flat body; and, c.whereby when said elastic arms on said male slide connector are insertedinto said end opening formed on said female slide connector, said arcmembers are positioned in a side-by-side manner with their center holesaligned and registered to form a D-ring with a large continuous holethat receives the clip on a third strap that holds said arc memberstogether and prevents said male slide connector and said female slideconnector from disconnecting.